Football Equipment



Shin Pads

Football Equipment

Selecting Shin Pads.

Whatever level you play at, safety is still an important factor. Choosing the right pads that give you protection and comfort is therefore key.

Why Use Shin Pads?

The shin bone is just below the skin and not protected by any surrounding muscles, so it's very susceptible to injury. Injury to this bone is especially painful, because the bone surface is covered with nerve endings.

Choosing Your Shin Pads


  • Goalkeepers - choose lightweight pads that still allow for agility, as goalies tend not to come into too many collisions with other players.
  • Defenders - choose fairly large pads, which also have an ankle protector as there is very frequent contact with opponents during the game.
  • Midfielders - choose pads which allow for rapid movements with maximum protection.
  • Strikers - choose lighter weight pads that allow for quick movements and speed.

A word of warning: the choice of protection is a very individual matter. Each player should wear protection best suited to their needs and health in mind.

Material Composition

Inner:

  • EVA foam - used to line the interior of a product for protection. Very versatile as a material.
  • Foam rubber - a lightweight material, which can be shaped. Doesn't provide the same level of protection as fiberglass.

Outer:
  • Fiberglass - a lightweight but stiff and strong material that provides excellent protection.
  • Polyurethane (PU) - probably the most widely used material, not light, but with almost perfect shock absorption properties.
  • Plastic - inexpensive material with very low protective properties.

The Football

Let's not forget about selecting the football itself! After all, without the ball, there is no game. Balls differ in size, weight, and of course design. Choosing a ball based on its size or bounce will also be dependent on the age and experience of the player.  

The Original Football

Footballs have undergone many improvements in both the technical and material aspect since their inception. Today's football differs much from the first football model; hand-stitched balls didn't allow for a uniform shape and were exclusively made from natural leather. The ball itself became heavy when wet, and even a danger to some players.


Present Day Football Balls

Today's balls are mainly comprised of 32 panels, which are either stitched or glued together. Balls are moreover manufactured from synthetic materials instead of natural leather.

How To Choose a Football

The main selection criteria is the size of the ball. The standard size of a football is 5, which is used in all matches at the senior categories. Then there is a size 4, which is suitable for children from 8 to 12 years of age. Size 3 is suitable for children up to the age of 8 . Size 1 is suitable for training skills with a ball.


Types Of Footballs

In the past, balls were made of leather, but leather has a tendency to absorb water causing the ball to become very heavy, so nowadays footballs are made of synthetic material. There are three types of synthetic material: PU, PVC and a mixture of those.


Balls made out of PVC are cheaper, harder, and last longer than PU, which is why these are often used as practice balls. Players who look for peak performance generally use PU balls though.

The Environment of the Game in The Selection Process

When playing on a dry surface, a classic leather ball is suitable. If playing on a wet field however, a ball made from synthetic materials (not prone to absorbing water) would be more appropriate, as it won't change its weight or shape.


How To Recognize a Good Quality Ball

How do you recognize a quality ball? A key indication will of course be its price. The higher the price ; the higher the quality, technology and more durable it will be. Of course, this may not always apply, but it is one of the most immediate and telling of guidelines.